Session 5: Annotated Bibliography

Annotated Bibliography 1
Citation:
Essex, C. (2007). Web 2.0 new tools for distance learning. Distance learning...for educators, trainers, and leaders, 4(3), 47-53.

Summary:
With various technological innovations, online educators find it challenging keep up. Essex discussed how the widely used Learning Management Systems (LMS), Blackboard and WebCT, provided features such as: gradebooks, quizzing, testing, communication tools, etc..., but it was teacher-centered structured. He then talked about how Web 2.0 can change the way online education is going. Instead of the course being led by one author (teacher/instructor), “Web 2.0 tools allow everyone access to the means of knowledge production” (p.48).

The most widely used web services in education he mentioned are: podcasts, blogs and wikis. Podcasts are digital audio or video files. They are inexpensive and easy to create. Audacity provides free software for podcast creation. Blogging is a kind of website where a user can write about a certain topic and allow readers to comment on their thoughts. Class Blogmeister is a specific blog developed around educational use that was provided from the article. Finally, wikis. They “are collaborative environments by definition, allowing multiple usrs to work on the same documents, though not a t precisely the same time” (p.51).

Review:
I found this article very informative in providing the various types of technology that can be used for educational purposes. The author presented useful websites on where to actually require these types of tools so you can try it out yourself. He also provided blogging and podcasting websites that specifically contain educational contents. The only downside to the article is that the author failed to offer the readers the negative side of these types of web services.

All in all, I found the article very informative in keeping up with the latest technology available for use in distance education. I would recommend others to read it to get a brief description of web services being offered.

Annotated Bibliography 2
Citation:
Galagan, P. (2008). Second that. T & D, 62(1), 34-37.

Summary:
The article talks about online classrooms in a virtual world through the use of a program called Second Life. “Second Life a digital chimera that is visited by million of people daily, is a virtual world where almost anything can happen, including new ways to learn and engage people in extended workplace” (p. 35).

Galagan talked about how many universities, colleges and even corporations use this virtual world in interacting with others. “It’s a collaborative environment where you really feel like you’re physically with other people” (p.35). You can conversed with other students from your class and even your instructor if they are at the same you are at. Because Second Lifes’ contents are user-crated, users can build their own world for their specific needs.

Review:
The article provided useful insights on how far can we go with technology. I did not even know this type of technology existed and is being widely used. Virtual worlds were created for training new employees, international corporate meetings are being held virtually and college campuses built for educational use.

Although the article was an interesting read in terms of the possibility of building virtual worlds, it failed to discuss how Second Life actually works, requirements and costs. If you would like to find out more about Second Life, you could visit the actual site: http://secondlife.com/whatis/. I recommend this article for those who want to know a brief overview of what Second Life is and its possibilities.